(Minghui.org) After Shen Yun Performing Arts launched its new season on December 23, 2024, five of the company’s touring companies performed across the United States during the holiday season.
Shen Yun International Company at a packed house at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut, on the afternoon of December 28. The company presented two performances in Waterbury on December 28. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun North America Company at a packed house at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose, California, on December 28. The company presented five performances in San Jose from December 26–30. (The Epoch Times)
Shen Yun World Company at its last performance at Georgia’s Atlanta Symphony Hall on December 27. The company presented five performances to packed houses at the Atlanta Symphony Hall December 23–27. (NTD Television)
Shen Yun Touring Company at a packed house at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, on the afternoon of December 28. The company presented its first round of eight performances in Houston from December 26–January 1. (The Epoch Times)
Statement from Governor Greg Abbott of Texas welcoming Shen Yun to the Lone Star State. He wrote, “As Governor of Texas, I am proud to welcome the Shen Yun company to Texas for its 2025 world tour.” (The Epoch Times)
“The Talent is Spectacular”
Texas State Senator Donna Campbell honored Shen Yun’s artists with a certificate commending their mission at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin on December 28. (NTD Television)
Texas State Senator Donna Campbell saw Shen Yun in Austin on the afternoon of December 28 and honored the artists with a certificate commending their mission.
“This is a certificate of honor for the performance, for the mission to put China before communism, and I support that strongly. Any legislation that we can put forward, I would do that,” said Ms. Campbell.
“I think the choreography is wonderful, the talent is spectacular, the mission is good, the message is clear, that the presentation of Chinese culture clearly shows through,” she said.
She said the artists’ mission was a wonderful one that she supported, and she urged Americans not to take their freedom of expression for granted.
Ms. Campbell said she wanted to extend a message of encouragement, hoping the dancers “continue performing because the blessing of perseverance—is success.”
Audience members waiting in the lobby of The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas, prior to the performance on December 27. From December 26–29, Shen Yun New World Company presented five performances in Austin. (The Epoch Times)
“So Visually Stunning”
Musical director Chester Eitze (left) and music theater performer Les Young (right) at the Shen Yun performance in Austin on December 29 (The Epoch Times)
Music theater performer Les Young and musical director Chester Eitze saw Shen Yun in Austin on December 29. The two were impressed by Shen Yun’s production and the performers’ superb techniques.
“The main thing is, it’s so visually stunning,” said Mr. Eitze, who was the Bastrop Opera House executive director for many years and had seen Shen Yun before. “You have the projections, you have the technical aspects, but then what they do is they emphasize the body and how the human body moves. I think that’s what divine is. Divine movement, divine spiritual body. It’s just amazing, stunning.”
“[Shen Yun] took me away from the daily problems that we’re thinking about and into the artistic, the divinity,” Mr. Young said.
“The saddest thing... [is that] these performers cannot do this in China now, and that’s very painful,“ Mr. Eitze said. “The first time I saw it, I cried. I started getting tears because I knew it was coming. I knew there were several more scenes enacted like that... I could just feel my tears starting to come.”
However, both Mr. Eitze and Mr. Young felt that, despite the adversity depicted in the performance, there was also an overarching message of hope for the future.
“It’s hope to go forward,” Mr. Eitze said.
“I liked the ending because there’s hope,” Mr. Young said. “Things are not the best right [now,] no, [but] things will get better.”
“The Tradition Really Stood Out”
Military linguist Ryan Maravilla at the Shen Yun performance in San Jose on December 29 (NTD Television)
Ryan Maravilla, a military linguist, and his wife Grace saw Shen Yun in San Jose on December 29. Mr. Maravilla loved the idea that Shen Yun presents a brand-new roster of programs every year.
“The stories and the narratives are universal even if it’s not spoken and even if you don’t speak the language itself—it just comes through the expression, the emotion, and the music... I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“The tradition really stood out. The traditional instruments, traditional movements, the athletic movements that were explained as always being a part of traditional Chinese dance—that was really impressive.
“I do understand that ancient Chinese tradition has beginnings of spirituality, and I got to see that at the beginning [of the show] and how it was brought to the modern day. It’s very fun,” he said.
Mr. Maravilla was also happy to see the emphasis Shen Yun artists placed on the importance of believing in the divine.
“I’m glad that the show is not shy to express it or share it with the rest of the world... It’s very bold. It’s much needed and, in the end, it’s a message of peace and love, unity. So, it’s a very good message. A good reminder,” he said.
“You Feel the Love, You Feel the Compassion”
Karen Roberts, a business owner, at the Shen Yun performance in Waterbury on December 28 (NTD Television)
Karen Roberts, a business owner, and her husband Edward Roberts, director of student enrollment services at a university, saw Shen Yun in Waterbury on December 28.
“Overall, it was just sensational, I can’t even put it into words,” said Mrs. Roberts. “It was art, living art. The artwork was beautiful. The dancing, and the music, and the goodness of it—you just felt like there was such godliness [to] it. I loved it.”
“We go to a lot of shows, and this one was exceptional in terms of quality,” Mr. Roberts said.
Mrs. Roberts said that she could feel the positive energy radiating from the performance and that the story of the dances really stood out to her.
“You got the feeling of the stories,” she said. “They really came across. … It was fabulous.”
Regarding the female singer’s bel canto performance, Mr. Roberts said that he thought she was beautiful and that her "divineness" was what captured his attention.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts both said that they believe Shen Yun is a performance that is needed in today's society.
“You feel the love, you feel the compassion... That’s how we all should feel,” said Mrs. Roberts.
“[Shen Yun] shows the connection of faith between all of us,” said Mr. Roberts. “It’s extremely critical [to society].”
As someone who works in a university, Mr. Roberts added that Shen Yun is a performance that students should absolutely see.
“It’s something that [should] be shared with the university, with the young people. It’s critical,” he said.
Three of Shen Yun’s eight touring companies will continue to perform across the United States. For more information about performance times, locations, and tickets, please visit www.shenyun.com.
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